Travel & Booking.
Security & Baggage.

London City Airport is committed to processing passengers as quickly as possible. Passengers are advised to allow additional time for security processing, particularly during peak times. We appreciate your understanding.

Passengers are advised that check-in is open 2 hours before scheduled departure. Passengers will be unable to check-in before this time.

Baggage rules vary between airlines and the type of ticket purchased. You are advised to check baggage rules with your airline before arriving at London City Airport.

*For information regarding ski equipment, please scroll to the bottom of the page.

Hand baggagePassengers traveling from London City Airport with hand baggage should ensure that their luggage size is acceptable with their airlines.

In line with new UK Government requirements, passengers on some routes into and out of the UK may be required to show that electronic devices in their hand luggage are powered up or face not being allowed to bring the device onto the aircraft. Passengers flying into or out of the UK are therefore advised to make sure electronic devices being carried in their hand luggage are charged before they travel. For more information click here.

Liquids in Hand BaggageGovernment authorities in many countries have now defined restrictions on the type and quantity of liquids that may be carried in hand baggage through an airport, or on flights arriving at, or departing from their country.

New liquids rule effective from 31st January 2014

From the 31st January 2014 all duty free liquids aerosols and gels purchased within any airport or on board an aircraft may now be carried as hand baggage. These items are required to be sealed inside a security tamper-evident bag at the time of purchase with the receipt for proof of purchase.

There will still be exceptions to the 100ml restrictions for medical and dietary liquids (including baby food), however the previous rule where the adult accompanying the child has to taste a percentage of the baby food is no longer required.

Following changes to regulation all above categories of liquids (duty free in security tamper-evident bags, Medical and dietary liquids (including baby food) will however need to go through additional screening after passing through the x-ray.

Please note that if a liquid has caused an activation after passing through the additional screening equipment and the security officer has not been able to resolve it, this may result in the liquid not being permitted through Security.

The current rules concerning ALL liquids 100ml or less still remain and will need to be presented in a single, 1 litre clear, transparent bag that can be sealed. For information please click here.

Body ScannerIn accordance with DfT regulations, a new body scanner has been installed in LCY central search and will begin to be used with randomly selected passengers from September 1. Click here to read more.

The European Union (EU) Liquid PolicyThe European Union agreed a new policy to protect air travellers against the current security threat.

The EU rules on liquids apply to all air passengers travelling from any EU airport, including UK airports, as well those travelling from Albania, Kosovo, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Switzerland and Ukraine, regardless of their destination. The changes became effective on 6 November 2006. Limited quantities of liquids, gels or pastes must be held in individual containers not exceeding 100ml (approximately 3.5 fl. oz). These may include:

All creams, gels, sprays and pastes

Lipstick

Hair wax

Shampoo

Creams

Hair gel, hair spray

Suntan lotions

Toothpaste

Liquid, solids, aerosol deodorants or deodorants sticks

Perfumes

Cosmetics such as mascara and lip gloss

Water and other drinks, soups and syrups

Other items of similar consistency including jams, honey and edible spreads

The containers must be carried in a separate clear plastic bag that does not exceed 20cm x 20cm (8 inches x 8 inches) or equivalent to one litre (1.75 pint) capacity.

Items must fit in the bag comfortably and the bag must be completely closed. At the airport security search, the plastic bag must be removed from the cabin bag so it can be x-ray screened separately.

You will also need to remove any large electrical items, laptops, and tablets as these will be screened separately.

This list below has been taken from the Department for Transport website. It outlines which items are prohibited in the cabin or hold of the aircraft. Some items are prohibited by the London City Airports Security Management Team in accordance with other UK Airports. Please note that this list is non-exhaustive.

Items purchased at duty freeThe duty free items purchased previously as part of an earlier flight may proceed through security, but must be in a sealed transparent, tamper evidence bag with the receipt inside the bag.

Material that could spontaneously ignite or combust (burst into flames)

NO

NO

Fire extinguishers

NO

NO

* This is a London City Airport Rule in line with most UK Airports

Baby Food and Baby Milk

Baby Food and Baby Milk

Allowed in hand baggage?

Allowed in hold baggage?

Breast milk, formula milk or cow's milk

YES

YES

(but only if baby is travelling with the parent)

Powdered milk

YES

YES

(With no restriction with the amount that can be carried)

Sterilised water

YES

YES

(but must be in a baby's bottle)

Soya milk for babies

YES

YES

Baby food of various consistencies

YES

YES

Yougurts

YES**

YES

Liquid juices

NO

YES

* You are allowed to take enough baby food or milk for the journey in your cabin baggage. In some cases this may be over 100ml.

**Yes, but only if the product is under 100ml.

Medication & Medical Equipment Items

Medication and Medical Equipment Items

Allowed in hand baggage?

Allowed in hold baggage?

Cooling gel packs

YES

YES

Medical equipment (CPAP and TENS machines, etc.)

YES

YES

Tablets and capsules

YES

YES

(There is no restriction on the number of tablets or capsules you can carry)

YES

Essential liquid medicines

YES

YES

Hypodermic syringes

YES

YES

Inhalers

YES*

YES

Oxygen cylinders

YES

NO

(but always check with your airline first)

* This is a London City Airport Rule in line with most UK Airports. Medication in a liquid form carried in a container that exceeds 100ml is permitted as hand baggage but must be supported by a prescription or documentation from a medical practioner.

Work Tools

Work Tools

Allowed in hand baggage?

Allowed in hold baggage?

Tool with a blade or shaft longer than 6cm* (screwdriver, chisel etc.)

NO

YES

Drill and drill bits

NO

YES

Stanley knife

NO

YES

Saw (includes portable power saw)

NO

YES

Screwdriver

NO

YES

Hammer

NO

YES

Pliers

NO

YES

Wrench or spanner

NO

YES

Bolt gun or nail gun

NO

YES

Crowbar

NO

YES

Blowtorch

NO

YES

* This is a London City Airport Rule in line with most UK Airports

Personal Items

Personal Items

Allowed in hand baggage?

Allowed in hold baggage?

Hairdryer

YES

YES

Travel iron

YES

YES

Travel kettle

YES

YES

Christmas crackers

NO

SEE NOTES BELOW**

Ink or toner cartridges

NO

NO

Corkscrew

NO

YES

Spoon

YES

YES

Knife(with a sharp or pointed blade and/or a blade longer than 6cm*)

NO

YES

Small scissors (with blades no longer than 6cm*)

YES

YES

Large scissors (with blades longer than 6cm*)

NO

YES

Round-ended/blunt scissors (of any length)

YES

YES

Cigar Cutters (with blade under 6cm)

YES

YES

Fixed-cartridge razor blade (disposable razor)

YES

YES

Nail clippers/nail file

YES

YES

Tweezers

YES

YES

Knitting needles

YES

YES

Sewing needles

YES

YES

Umbrella

YES

YES

Walking stick/cane,walking aid

YES

YES

Camera tripod

YES

YES

Pushchair

YES

YES

Wheelchair

YES

YES

Safety matches

YES

YES

'Strike anywhere' matches(non-safety matches)

NO

NO

Inflated,air filled sports balls (eg rugby and footballs)

NO

NO

Fireworks, flares and otherpyrotechnics, including partypoppers and toy caps

NO

NO

Cigarette lighter

NO

NO

(but you may carry a single lighter on your person)

Contact lens solution

YES

YES

(but no more than 100ml)

* This is a London City Airport Rule in line with most UK Airports** British Airways allow Christmas Crackers to be checked in providing they meet the following restrictions; maximum two boxes per pers, the crackers must be commercially manufactured, the crackers muct be for personal use only and homemade crackers are not permitted.**Lufthansa, Luxair, CityJet and Alitalia do not permitt Christmas crackers within hold luggage.** Swiss accepts Christmas crackers within the hold with no restriction on quantity, but if checked in passengers may have to pay excess if over their allowed number of pieces. Crackers must be boxed and sealed with original wrapper intact.**Blue Islands and Flybe allow a maximum of 12 crackers, they must be boxed and sealed in orginal wrapping.**NO airline accepts homemade crackers or party poppers.

Ski Equipment

Alitalia

Ski and Snowboard items are included in the baggage allowance, with a maximum of 20 Kgs. per item. Additional items will be at extra cost. Ulisse, Freccia Alata and Freccia Alata Plus Clubs members have free transport of sport equipment bags on Alitalia flights).

Alitalia advise all passengers travelling with sports equipment to contact the call centre to arrange the booking and check-in procedure.

Cityjet

British Airways

There is no additional allowance for sporting equipment, but it can be carried free of charge as part of your free checked baggage allowance. If the total number of bags is more than your free checked allowance, you will need to pay extra bag charges.

Lufthansa

Because of limited capacities and differing rules on Lufthansa's partner airlines, they cannot guarantee when you book that your ski baggage will be accepted in every case. Please note that you need to register sports baggage under the reservation hotline preferably within 24 hours before departure, irrespective of whether your ski bags are within your free baggage allowance or will be checked in as excess baggage.

If you are taking your ski bags with you as excess baggage, please pay the required flat fee directly at the Lufthansa counter at the airport.

SWISS

Swiss will transport your sports equipment subject to no extra charge, provided that you do not exceed your baggage allowance. You will only be charged extra fees if you want to transport more items of luggage than those included in your allowance, or if your luggage is heavier or larger than the standard allowance.

Travelling with Pets

If you are travelling with British Airways pet transport is not possible at London City Airport. Only guide dogs (for visually impaired passengers) would be allowed to travel. For more information click here. All other airlines accept dogs regardless of them being guide dogs or not.

Cooling Gel Packs & Frozen Ice Packs

Cooling gel packs and frozen ice packs required to cool liquids required for a medical or a special dietary purpose do not have to be in a 1 litre plastic bag and are permitted in sufficient quantities for the trip. There should be documentary evidence to confirm the need to keep the liquid cool either on the label of the medication or in the form of a letter from a medical practitioner or medical company.